The Ramsar Standing Committee convened for its 29th meeting from 26-28 February to select regional experts for the Convention’s scientific subsidiary body – the Scientific and Technical Panel (STRP).

Together with BirdLife International, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Wetlands International, WWF International and other invited experts from NGOs and MEA Secretariats, these 14 new regional experts will serve as full members of the STRP for the triennium 2003-2005. The STRP will review priorities set by the Standing Committee and consider the way forward at the Panel’s first meeting, which is scheduled for 8-11 April 2003 in Gland, Switzerland. Max Finlayson and Heather MacKay were appointed to serve as STRP’s Chair and Vice-Chair respectively. More information is available at: http://ramsar.org/w.n.strp_named_2003.htm